Larenz Tate Joins The Season 4 Cast Of “Power”

The actor behind such iconic roles as O-Dog in Menace II Society and Anthony Curtis in Dead Presidents is bringing his talents to one of television’s most successful shows. Larenz Tate has been cast as a recurring character on season four of Power, executive produced in part by 50 Cent. The Chicago native who also starred in the Academy Award-winning film Crash will join Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Naturi Naughton, and the rest of the Starz program’s cast to play the role of a Jamaica, Queens politician (fittingly named Councilman Rashad Tate).

It’s a huge look for Tate, who joins the cast at its zenith. Season three, which premiered in the summer of 2016, set a new ratings record for Starz, amassing a staggering 2.3 million viewers. Further details surrounding Tate’s role have not yet been released, but according to the show’s website, season four has already begun production. IMDB reports that he will only be starring in three episodes, though further information is still pending. In the past, Tate has starred in several hit television shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Rescue Me, and House of Lies. In addition to Menace II Society and Dead Presidents, Tate is celebrated for his roles in films like Love Jones, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, and Ray. His casting in Power arrives amidst a particularly successful era for Black television, as hits like Atlanta, Empire, and others have become juggernauts.

As exciting as the news is, this isn’t the only career move Tate is making this year (or even this month). On February 7, the Black History Month-focused audio series “Bronzeville” premiered, starring Tate, Laurence Fishburne, Tracee Ellis Ross, and others. According to Tate, the show “chronicles the community of the South Side of Chicago during the 1940s” and centers on the self-sustaining, independent Black community of the Bronzeville neighborhood. Episodes of the “podcast movie” are available on streaming platforms including iTunes and Spotify.